Performance of non-linear seabed interaction models for steel catenary risers,part II: global response

Fatigue response of steel catenary risers (SCR) in the touchdown zone (TDZ) is significantly affected by riser-seabed interaction. Non-linear hysteretic riser-seabed interaction models have been recently developed to simulate the SCR cyclic embedment into the seabed. Despite the advancements achieved in the prediction of non-linear hysteretic riser-seabed interaction, several inconsistencies have been recently identified in the nodal performance of some of the popular models. These limitations need to be resolved by proposing new models or improving the existing models. However, it is necessary to evaluate the influence of the identified shortcomings of the existing models on the global performance of the riser. In this paper, the influence of nodal inconsistencies observed in a popular riser-seabed interaction model on the global performance of the riser was comprehensively examined in the TDZ. The riser embedment profile, cyclic contact stress, contact stress envelop, mean shear force, cyclic bending moment, and consequently the cumulative fatigue damage was investigated. The study showed that the soil model overestimates the riser embedment and other global responses. Recommendations were made to overcome the identified shortcomings of the existing models in future developments.     

Trenching effects on dynamic behavior of a steel catenary riser

The fatigue life of a steel catenary riser (SCR) near its touch-down zone (TDZ) is substantially affected by its interaction with the seabed. Therefore, accurate estimate of the fatigue life of a SCR requires the understanding and realistic modeling of this interaction. The interaction depends on several factors, such as soil properties, riser characteristics, and the development of trenching at the seabed. Existing approaches for modeling the seabed in interaction with a SCR approximate the behavior of the seabed soil by linear or nonlinear spring and dashpot, which represent the stiffness and damping of the soil, respectively. However, these approaches do not account for certain phenomena resulting from the plastic deformation of soil, such as trenching development at the seabed. In this study, a more realistic approach is developed for simulating the interaction between a SCR and the seabed. In addition to the use of a realistic P–y curve (where P stands for the supporting force of the seabed and y for the vertical penetration of the riser into the seabed) to simulate the soil deformation during its interaction with the riser, it considers the development of a trench caused by continuous impact of a riser on the seabed and then its feedback effect on the variation of the bending moment along the riser. It is found that the trenching development on the seabed may decrease the maximum variation of bending moment of a riser near its TDZ. Since the variation of bending moment dictates the fatigue damage to the SCR, the results based on this approach indicate that the trenching development at the seabed may increase the fatigue life of the SCR and hence it may have important application to the design of a SCR.     

非线性管土耦合作用下钢悬链式立管触地区敏感性分析

浮体运动和海床土刚度是引起钢悬链式立管(steel catenary riser,简称SCR)管土相互作用的关键因素,将导致SCR触地区的疲劳损伤。以工作水深为1500 m的浮式平台上生产立管SCR为研究对象,基于法向抗力模型和侧向阻力模型建立管土作用模型,在环境载荷和浮体运动作用下,开展SCR与浮式平台的整体分析,研究海床土参数对SCR触地区动态响应和疲劳寿命的敏感性。通过改变海床土的不排水抗剪强度Su0、强度梯度ρ、吸力因子f_suc、吸力衰减参数λ_suc以及再贯入系数λ_rep等,得到不同参数对触地区动力响应、疲劳寿命的影响规律。研究结果表明:①基于软黏土海床,随着不排水抗剪强度Su0的增加,触地区立管疲劳寿命减幅达到33.23%,敏感性最高;②吸力因子f_suc越大,立管疲劳寿命越小且减幅达23.77%,其敏感性较高;③随着再贯入系数λ_rep增大,触地区立管疲劳寿命增幅达到15.48%;④海床抗剪强度梯度ρ和吸力衰减参数λ_suc对立管疲劳寿命影响较小。研究结论能为SCR设计分析及安全服役提供重要参考。     

考虑非线性管-土接触模型的钢悬链线立管触地区动态曲率分析

钢悬链线立管(SCR)具有特殊的结构型式,循环载荷作用下,由于海床模型的不确定性易导致触地区产生较高的弯曲应力,引发疲劳损伤。基于非线性P-y曲线管-土接触模型,运用大挠度曲线梁模型来模拟SCR与海床土的相互作用,研究SCR在浮体二维运动和海床作用下,触地区的动态曲率变化情况。由计算结果可知:1)由于在立管的有效张力中考虑局部曲率的影响,导致立管触地区的有效张力显著增加,并产生较高的弯矩; 2)动态分析中,分别运用线弹性海床和非线性海床模型,研究立管触地区的相对曲率随相对时间的变化曲线,表明非线性海床将使触地区的相对曲率具有明显的非线性,且有多个峰值,变化幅度较大,并出现反向曲率; 3)垂荡运动比纵荡对曲率的影响大,且运动幅值越大,影响越明显。     

Lateral cyclic interaction between catenary riser and soft seabed

The cyclic movement of a riser at the touchdown zone (TDZ), which involves complicated pipe–soil interaction, is critical to its long-term safety. Most previous studies have focused on the pipe–soil interaction of the riser in the vertical plane at the TDZ. Therefore, we conducted laboratory tests to investigate the pipe–soil interaction during lateral cyclic pipe movements and the influence of seabed evolution around the TDZ on the following vertical cyclic pipe movements. At the TDZ, the bell mouth shape of the clay bed and ladle-like shape of the pipe were observed during lateral cycling. The movement trajectory of the pipe as well as the gradual penetration process was recorded, which may be mainly attributed to the lateral ploughing and soil softening around the pipe. The test dynamic embedment factor (ratio of the dynamic embedment and static embedment) was 1.7–2.7. The enlargement of the TDZ during cycling was measured, which was mainly related to the movement of the trench surface point. The increase in the undrained strength of the soil at the TDZ after dynamic tests proves that a crust of soil was formed beneath the pipe owing to consolidation during cyclic pipe–soil interaction.     

Centrifuge modelling of SCR vertical motion at touchdown zone

Steel catenary risers (SCR) connect seabed pipelines and flow lines to floating structures used for oil and gas production in deep waters. Waves and currents induce motions of the structure and the risers. The repeated motions of the risers at the touchdown zone in turn induce loads on the seabed soil and might eventually cause fatigue damage to the risers. The analysis of riser fatigue damage is heavily dependent on the soil model. Soil behaviour at touchdown zone such as soil remoulding, stiffness degradation and deformation of the seabed at the touchdown zone further complicate the accurate assessment of riser fatigue damage, which is currently not appropriately quantified in existing design methods. This paper presents centrifuge model tests simulating the repeated vertical movement of a length of riser on clay seabed with increasing undrained shear strength with depth. During the tests, the pipe was subject to cyclic motion over fixed vertical displacement amplitude from an invert embedment of 0.5-3.5 pipe diameters into the soil. The test results show a significant progressive degradation of soil strength and diminution of excess pore water pressure with increasing number of riser penetration/uplift cycle. In view of the different types of environment loadings experienced by floating platforms and various soil conditions, tests were also conducted to investigate the effect of soil strength, riser displacement rate and loading mode on riser-soil interaction during repetitive penetration/uplift motion of the riser.     

Modeling touchdown point oscillation and its relationship with fatigue response of steel catenary risers

The riser-seabed interaction resulting in a trench formed in the touchdown zone (TDZ) of steel catenary risers (SCR) has a significant influence on accumulated fatigue damage. Several studies have used different trench modeling approaches to investigate the trench effect on fatigue. However, contradictory observations have been reported with no coherent agreement on the beneficial or detrimental effect of the trench on fatigue. In this study, the significance of trench geometry in fatigue damage evaluation was investigated. Using analytical and numerical approaches, a meaningful relationship was observed between the trench slope in different zones and the peak fatigue damage. A new set of rules was proposed for the qualitative assessment of the overall trend of trench effect on the variation of fatigue damage. The proposed assessment rules were validated by performing comprehensive numerical fatigue analysis. A comparison with samples of published experimental and numerical studies was also completed. It was observed that depending on the direction of the low-frequency vessel excursions, the peak fatigue damage may increase towards the near offsets and decrease towards the far vessel offset. This implied that the case dependency of the trench effect on fatigue response in different geographical locations with various environmental loads was a potential source for the contradictory results reported in previously published studies.     

Fatigue Characteristic Analysis of Deepwater Steel Catenary Risers at the Touchdown Point

This paper presents fatigue characteristic analysis of a deepwater steel catenary riser (SCR) under ambient excitations. The SCR involves complex nonlinear dynamic behaviors, especially at the touchdown point (TOP) where the riser first touches the seafloor. Owing to the significant interaction with soil, the touchdown zone is difficult to be modeled. Based on Lumped-Mass method and P-y curve, nonlinear springs are used to simulate the SCR-seabed coupled interaction. In case studies, an SCR's dynamic features have been obtained by transient analysis and the structure fatigue assessment has been carried out by S-N approach. The comparative analysis shows that the TOP is the key location where soil-riser interaction rises steeply and minimum fatigue life occurs. Parameters such as ocean environment loads, vessel motions, riser material and geometric parameters are discussed. The results indicate that the vessel motion is the principal factor for the structure fatigue lite distribution.     

Experimental Investigation on Vortex-Induced Vibration of Steel Catenary Riser

Steel catenary riser(SCR) is the transmission device between the seabed and the floating production facilities. As developments move into deeper water, the fatigue life of the riser can become critical to the whole production system, especially due to the vortex-induced vibration(VIV), which is the key factor to operational longevity. As a result, experimental investigation about VIV of the riser was performed in a large plane pool which is 60 m long, 36 m wide and 6.5 m deep. Experiments were developed to study the influence of current speed and seabed on VIV of SCR. The results show that amplitudes of strain and response frequencies increase with the current speed both in cross-flow(CF) and in-line(IL). When the current speed is high, multi-mode response is observed in the VIV motion. The amplitudes of strain in IL direction are not much smaller than those in CF direction. The seabed has influence on the response frequencies of riser and the positions of damage for riser.     

Experimental Investigation on Vortex-Induced Vibration of Steel Catenary Riser

Steel catenary riser (SCR) is the transmission device between the seabed and the floating production facilities. As developments move into deeper water, the fatigue life of the riser can become critical to the whole production system, especially due to the vortex-induced vibration (VIV), which is the key factor to operational longevity. As a result, experimental investigation about VIV of the riser was performed in a large plane pool which is 60 m long, 36 m wide and 6.5 m deep. Experiments were developed to study the influence of current speed and seabed on VIV of SCR. The results show that amplitudes of strain and response frequencies increase with the current speed both in cross-flow (CF) and in-line (IL). When the current speed is high, multi-mode response is observed in the VIV motion. The amplitudes of strain in IL direction are not much smaller than those in CF direction. The seabed has influence on the response frequencies of riser and the positions of damage for riser.     

Cross-Flow VIV-Induced Fatigue Damage of Deepwater Steel Catenary Riser at Touch-Down Point简

A prediction model of the deepwater steel catenary riser VIV is proposed based on the forced oscillation test data, taking into account the riser-seafloor interaction for the cross-flow VIV-induced fatigue damage at touch-down point （TDP）. The model will give more reasonable simulation of SCR response near TDP than the previous pinned truncation model. In the present model, the hysteretic riser-soil interaction model is simplified as the linear spring and damper to simulate the seafloor, and the damping is obtained according to the dissipative power during one periodic riser-soil interaction. In order to validate the model, the comparison with the field measurement and the results predicted by Shear 7 program of a full-scale steel catenary riser is carried out. The main induced modes, mode frequencies and response amplitude are in a good agreement. Furthermore, the parametric studies are carried out to broaden the understanding of the fatigue damage sensitivity to the upper end in-plane offset and seabed characteristics. In addition, the fatigue stress comparison at TDP between the truncation riser model and the present full riser model shows that the existence of touch-down zones is very important for the fatigue damage assessment of steel catenary riser at TDP.     

Time domain prediction approach for cross-flow VIV induced fatigue damage of steel catenary riser near touchdown point

Previous steel catenary riser (SCR) models targeted for VIV prediction are truncated at touchdown point (TDP) where simple constrain and rotation stiffness are generally applied. In this study, a time domain approach accounting for the SCR–soil interaction is proposed to predict the cross-flow (CF) VIV induced fatigue damage of a SCR near TDP. The hydrodynamic force is simulated based on the forced vibration test data as a function of the non-dimensional amplitude and frequency, and an empirical damping model. When the non-dimensional frequency associated with the calculated frequency falls in the excitation region, the natural frequency closer to the frequency corresponding to the maximum excitation force is taken to be the dominant frequency, and applied to obtain the excitation force. The SCR–soil interaction model takes into account the trench shape, and the mobilization and release of the soil suction. Fatigue damage is linearly accumulated by using the rain-flow counting methodology. To validate the proposed models, simulation for a riser model test is carried out, and the envelopes of RMS displacement, curvature, and fatigue damage are compared. Further works focus on the sensitivity of VIV induced fatigue damage near TDP to the seabed parameters, such as mudline shear strength, shear strength gradient and soil suction, and some conclusions are obtained.     

钢悬链线立管与海床土体接触问题的ANSYS有限元分析

钢悬链线立管(SCR)与海床土体的接触问题对立管的疲劳寿命影响很大.运用ANSYS有限元软件中的接触单元模拟SCR与海床接触处的相互作用,考虑海床土体的非线性,建立SCR与海床系统有限元模型,并同已有的等价梁-弹簧模型进行了比较和验证.运用该模型进行计算分析,探讨了管道重量、土体模型和摩擦系数等对管道入土深度和弯矩的影响,为进一步研究SCR与海床的相互作用提供参考.     

Numerical simulation of the nonlinear wave-induced dynamic response of anisotropic poro-elastoplastic seabed

Abstract

In this paper, a 2D poro-elastoplastic model for wave-induced dynamic response in an anisotropic seabed is derived analytically. The seabed is treated as a porous medium and characterized by Biot’s consolidation equations. The soil plasticity and wave non-linearity are included in the model and both the pore fluid and the soil skeleton are assumed to be compressible. The nonlinear ocean waves are respectively considered as progressive and standing waves. The previous experimental data is used to validate the proposed model. Numerical results demonstrate that the influence of nonlinear wave components should not be ignored without committing substantial error. A significant difference between progressive and standing waves is also observed for the development of residual pore pressure, as well as the distribution of liquefied zone. A detailed parametric investigation reveals that the nonlinear wave-induced seabed response is also affected significantly by cross-anisotropic soil parameters.     

Experimental Investigation of Vibration Response of A Free-Hanging Flexible Riser Induced by Internal Gas-Liquid Slug Flow

The vibration response of a free-hanging flexible riser induced by internal gas-liquid slug flow was studied experimentally in a small-diameter tube model based on Froude number criterion. The flow regime in a curved riser model and the response displacements of the riser were simultaneously recorded by high speed cameras. The gas superficial velocity ranges from 0.1 m/s to 0.6 m/s while the liquid superficial velocity from 0.06 m/s to 0.3 m/s. Severe slugging type 3, unstable oscillation flow and relatively stable slug flow were observed in the considered flow rates. Severe slugging type 3 characterized by premature gas penetration occurs at relatively low flow rates. Both the cycle time and slug length become shorter as the gas flow rate increases. The pressure at the riser base undergoes a longer period and larger amplitude of fluctuation as compared with the other two flow regimes. Additionally, severe slugging leads to the most vigorous in-plane vibration. However, the responses in the vertical and horizontal directions are not synchronized. The vertical vibration is dominated by the second mode while the horizontal vibration is dominated by the first mode. Similar to the vortex-induced vibration, three branches are identified as initial branch, build-up branch and descending branch for the response versus the mixture velocity of gas-liquid flow.     

波浪作用下黄河三角洲海底粉土液化特征对比研究

作为一种常见的近海海底灾害地质现象,波致海床液化严重威胁着黄河三角洲地区海底工程设施的安全。粉质海床液化后,海底粉土的结构、物理和力学性质均发生了改变,研究该变化规律尤其是评估液化后海底粉土再次发生液化的可能性具有重要的理论意义和应用价值。本文利用室内动三轴仪对取自黄河三角洲已液化和未液化海底粉土开展了液化试验对比研究,讨论了已液化和未液化海底粉土在孔压增长模式和轴向动应变发展趋势方面的异同,对比分析了二者的液化势。研究结果表明:应变标准比孔压标准更适用于评估黄河三角洲地区海底粉土的液化势;孔压和动应变发展模式均表明与未液化粉土相比,已液化海底粉土再次发生液化的抗力有所提高;已液化和未液化海底粉土归一化孔压比u_d/σ₃与循环加载次数比N/N_f间相关关系可采用双曲线或指数函数模型进行定量化描述;未液化海底粉土的波致液化临界循环应力比约为0.20,已液化海底粉土的临界循环应力比约为0.35。研究成果有助于加深对海底粉土波致液化特性的认识,亦可为循环应力历史影响下的土体力学性质研究提供参考。     

Experimental and Computational Investigations on Severe Slugging in A Catenary Riser

Severe slugging can occur in a pipeline-riser system at relatively low liquid and gas flow rates during gas-oil transportation, possibly causing unexpected damage to the production facilities. Experiments with air and water are conducted in a horizontal and downward inclined pipeline followed by a catenary riser in order to investigate the mechanism and characteristics of severe slugging. A theoretical model is introduced to compare with the experiments. The results show that the formation mechanism of severe slugging in a catenary riser is different from that in a vertical riser due to the riser geometry and five flow patterns are obtained and analyzed. A gas-liquid mixture slug stage is observed at the beginning of one cycle of severe slugging, which is seldom noticed in previous studies. Based on both experiments and computations, the time period and variation of pressure amplitude of severe slugging are found closely related to the superficial gas velocity, implying that the gas velocity significantly influences the flow patterns in our experiments. Moreover, good agreements between the experimental data and the numerical results are shown in the stability curve and flow regime map, which can be a possible reference for design in an offshore oil-production system.     

Principal stress rotation and cyclic shear strength for an elliptical rotation stress path

Based on the analytical solutions for wave-induced soil response in an unsaturated anisotropic seabed of finite thickness, an elliptical, i.e., noncircular rotation stress path is proven to be a more common state in a soil element with the cyclic shear stresses due to the traveling linear wave. The influence of an elliptical stress path on the characterization of failure strength is analyzed using three new parameters representing the shape, size, and the orientation of the ellipse. A series of cyclic rotational shear tests on the reconstituted specimens of Chinese Fujian Standard Sand have been performed to investigate the effect of elliptical stress path. A strength function in term of failure cycles is derived to quantify the failure strength of a given sand within a seabed subjected to regular wave loading. The results provide a basis for the evaluation of liquefaction potential of seabed but also point to a unique backbone cycle shear strength curve for soil under principal stress rotation.     

A parametric design study for a semi/SCR system in Northern North Sea

In recent years, offshore reservoirs have been developed in deeper and deeper water environments. Steel catenary risers (SCRs) are being considered in deepwater development such as Northern North Sea. SCRs used in conjunction with a semi-submersible or floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) in deepwater harsh environments present significant design challenges. The large vertical motions at the semi or FPSO induce severe riser response, which results in difficulty meeting strength and fatigue criteria at the hang off and touch down point locations. To improve the understanding of SCR behaviour and increase the confidence in the design of such systems in deepwater harsh environments, a parametric study on a SCR connected to a semi-submersible was carried out in this paper to deal with the factors that mainly influence the loading condition and fatigue life of the riser. Weight-optimized configurations were applied during the course of riser design. Riflex combined with DeepC was the primary analysis tool used for the long-term response of the nonlinear SCR structure simulations, which requires a large amount of computer time. Hence, the parameters affecting the efficiency and accuracy of the simulations have also been studied during the analysis process.     

基于可靠性的海洋立管疲劳安全系数研究

综合考虑了立管疲劳安全系数取值的相关因素——立管的安全等级、设计寿命、检验周期、载荷和损伤计算方法等的不确定性,提出了基于可靠度的疲劳安全系数确定方法,筛选了用于计算波致疲劳和VIV(涡激振动)疲劳的随机变量,给出了立管波致疲劳与VIV疲劳安全系数的计算流程,并以某SCR(钢悬链线立管)为例进行了安全系数计算。结果表明,该方法的计算结果优于传统的安全系数确定方法,尤其适合于特殊工程方案或新颖设计的立管疲劳校核。